The best beaches in Britain for 2020 have been revealed by The Sunday Times – and Runswick Sands in North Yorkshire has been crowned the winner, thanks to its silky stretch of sand, bottlenose dolphins and swirling rock pools.

Runswick Sands might be a relatively under-the-radar spot, but it is famed for its water quality, affordable car park price, toilets, dog-friendly environment and picture-perfect views.

    "It's a beach close to perfection, with safe swimming, fine castle-building, space for ball games, paddleboards and kayaks for hire, and three freshwater streams for damming," the report explains. "The sands stretch for nearly a mile from where an 800-yard scramble over the Hill Stones reef — fabulous for rock-pooling and a top cod-fishing spot on the winter-low neap tide — brings you to the fossil-hunting grounds at Kettleness Sands."

    runswick bay, north yorkshire, englandpinterest
    Photos by R A Kearton//Getty Images
    Runswick Sands in North Yorkshire took the top spot

    Elsewhere in the annual report, Kearvaig in Sutherland was named the best beach in Scotland, while over in Wales, Marloes Sands in Pembrokeshire took the top spot. Other winners include Spurn Head in East Riding, West Wittering in West Sussex and Carne Beach in Cornwall.

      Planning a staycation this year? Take a look at the full list below:

      Best beaches in Scotland

      1. Kearvaig, Sutherland
      2. Seacliff, East Lothian
      3. Kingsbarns, Fife
      4. Sands of Forvie, Aberdeenshire
      5. St Combs, Aberdeenshire
      6. Brora, Sutherland
      7. Dunnottar Castle, Aberdeenshire
      8. Melvich, Sutherland
      9. Gruinard Bay, Ross and Cromarty
      10. Camas an Lighe, Argyll
      bass rock from seacliff beach, scotlandpinterest
      Empato//Getty Images
      Seacliff, East Lothian

      Best beaches in the North

      1. Spurn Head, East Riding
      2. Fraisthorpe, East Riding
      3. Hunmanby Gap, North Yorkshire
      4. Marske-by-the-Sea, Redcar and Cleveland
      5. Druridge Bay, Northumberland
      6. Longhoughton Steel, Northumberland
      7. Ross Back Sands, Northumberland
      8. Seacote, Cumbria
      9. Ainsdale, Merseyside
      cresswell village from the beachpinterest
      daverhead//Getty Images
      Druridge Bay, Northumberland

      Best beaches in Wales

      1. Marloes Sands, Pembrokeshire
      2. Traeth Lligwy, Anglesey
      3. Newborough, Anglesey
      4. Whitesands, Pembrokeshire
      5. Porth Neigwl, Gwynedd
      6. Traeth Bach, Ceredigion
      7. Aberdyfi, Gwynedd
      8. Druidston Haven, Pembrokeshire
      9. Cefn Sidan, Carmarthenshire
      10. Tor Bay, Swansea
      wild flowers on the cliffs of whitesands bay on the pembrokeshire coast path near st davids at sunsetpinterest
      Michael Roberts//Getty Images
      Whitesands, Pembrokeshire

      Best beaches in the southwest

      1. Carne Beach, Cornwall
      2. Woody Bay, Devon
      3. Sandymouth, Cornwall
      4. Watergate Bay, Cornwall
      5. Chapel Porth, Cornwall
      6. Gwynver, Cornwall
      7. Church Cove, Cornwall
      8. Putsborough, Devon
      9. Soar Mill Cove, Devon
      10. Cogden, Dorset
      south west coast north of sandymouth beach cornwall england ukpinterest
      acceleratorhams//Getty Images
      Sandymouth, Cornwall

      Best beaches in the southeast

      1. West Wittering, West Sussex
      2. Hurst Point, Hampshire
      3. Littlehampton West Beach, West Sussex
      4. Pett Level, East Sussex
      5. Reculver, Kent
      6. Southwold Denes, Suffolk
      7. Aldeburgh, Suffolk
      8. Overstrand, Norfolk
      9. Horsey Gap, Norfolk
      10. Holkham, Norfolk
      colorful beach huts, west wittering, chichester, west sussex, england, ukpinterest
      Lena//Getty Images
      West Wittering, West Sussex

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      Lisa Joyner
      Deputy Daily Editor, Country Living and House Beautiful

       Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.